Burien, WA– Sylvester Middle School students who may go hungry over the weekend will now go home from school each Friday with a backpack full of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, canned soup, and easy to make snacks and meals.

The middle school is teaming up with the Highline Area Food Bank, Will Leather Goods, and the Highline Schools Foundation to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for students over their weekends and extended breaks, free of charge, through a new program called Project N.O.W. (Nutrition on Weekends).

Nearly 70% of students at Sylvester qualify for free or reduced priced meals, including breakfast and lunch.

“For many of our students, the only food they eat all day comes from breakfast and lunch at school,” said Sylvester Principal Kyle Linman. “Project N.O.W. allows us to support our students throughout the whole year, not just in the classroom but in all areas of their lives.”

To officially launch the program, Sylvester leadership students and teachers will fill 50 Give WILL backpacks donated from Will Leather Goods with food donated by the Highline Area Food Bank on May 7.

Each week, 25 Sylvester students in need will receive a backpack with food to take home for the weekend. An additional 25 students at nearby Gregory Heights Elementary School will also receive a Give WILL backpack full of food each week through Project N.O.W.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, May 7

Time: 2:40 p.m. – Leadership students and teachers will fill Give WILL backpacks with food from the Highline Area Food Bank for students in need.

Where: Sylvester Middle School: 16222 Sylvester Road SW, Burien

Who: Sylvester students and staff, and representatives from Highline Area Food Bank and Will Leather Goods

Contact: Catherine Carbone Rogers - (206) 631-3002, catherine.carbone@highlineschools

It costs $200 for a student to receive a backpack full of food through Project N.O.W. each school year. The Highline Area Food Bank has pledged to cover the first $100 of that cost. The Highline Schools Foundation is now seeking sponsors to cover the remanding $100 to expand the program to support even more students.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a student for $100 is asked to make an online donation to the Highline Schools Foundation and put Project N.O.W. in the subject line of the donation.